Thirteen-year-old Houston and his younger brother Robbie dream of becoming astronauts, but when Houston is accepted to the Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program he realizes that Robbie's dream may not be achievable due to his cerebral palsy, so he makes a new plan that shoots for the stars.

"Herc Beal knows who he's named after - a mythical hero - but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod, and not a single Hydra in sight. Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc...